Folding umbrella.



W; L. MILLsfalP. F.: GERHARD.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.k APPL'IOATIONIILEUOOT. 20', 1B09 Patented Apr. 26971910.

Ira/ems. MLM/Z5 71" flyer/mw K uNiTED sraansgrarnnr 'or3lm13`l-f-v WILLIS L. MILLS AND FRANK F. GERHARD, 0F KINGWOOD, IPENNS:YLV'ANIA.

Specification offietters Pate-nt'. i Patented Apr, 26s 1910;

` v "Applicationpled October 20, 1909; Serial Itat/13,632.

To all lwhom 'it may concern: l

Be it known that We, WILLIS L. Mints land FRANK F.- GERHARD, citizens of the United States of America, residing at King wood, in the county of Somerset vand Statel of Pennsylvania, have inventedf certain new and useful lin Jrovements' in Folding UmbrellasLof whic the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to umbrellas and aims to' provide anlumbrella in a manner as hereinafter set forth with a telescopic handle and further with means whereby the stretchers are "detachablyv connected to the inner ribs'to enable a close folding of theumbrella when occasion so requires. Further objectsof theiinvention are to provide an umbrella which shall be simple inits construction7 strong, durable, eiiicient in its use, provided with means for 1naintaining theouter rib iran-extended position with respect to the inner rib when the uur biella: is opened,incxpensiveto manufacture.

With theforegoing and other objects in viewJtheA invention consists ot' the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinaftermore specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein' is -shown the. preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is tofbe understood that hanges, variations and modifications can be`reso1t-cd to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended. 'Y

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote" corresponding parts throughout the yseveral views: Figure' 1 is a sectional .elevation showing in full lines the umbrella extended and in brokenlincsI the position of a stretcher and rib prior 'th the extending of the rib. Fig. 2 is a'sectional `elevationof the umbrella when closed. Fig. is a perspective view of the outer end of theLinner rib section. Fig", 4 is a perspective view ofthe inner end of the outer rib section. Fi 5 is a perspective View of the outer end o astretcher. Fig.` 6 isa sectional detail illustrating the outer end oi"l the stretcher connected to the inner rib section, and Fig. `7 is a detail in plan illustrating the spring for'rnaintaining theouter rib vsect-ion projectedfwitli lrespect 'to the inner rib sec* tion.

the runner Referring tothe drawings in detail -The stick comprises an vupper section j1 and a lower section 2'., the latter being adapted to telescope withinthe upper section 1. To the upper section 1 is secured the ferrule 3 andv the notched'collar 4.-.' The inner'rib sections 60 5 are attached tothev notched collar in a known manner.'

1`he7upper section 1 'of the stick is provided with a .spring latch 6 for maintaining the runner in` an elevated position and the said upper section lis also provi ed with an inwardlz7 extending spring latch 8 which engages the upper end of the lower section?, of the stick to maintain the said section 2 inv an extended position with respect `to the -sticl'lsec'tion 1.` The latch 8 is provided with a ringer piece 9'so vthat it'can be withdrawn to allow of thestick section 2 telescoping -in .v the-'section l f-when closing the-umbrella.,-

The-linger piece 9? fsuchzasto allow :the'f runner Y to'fo'rce' the latch 8,- inwardly when 7 and to the lower section Qas indicated: in@ dottedjflines in Fig'. 1. When the lower se'etion 2-is moved to a telescopic position with. 80

in the section 1 when. the umbrella is closed the friction exerted V.by the latch 8 against the section 2 maintains it in position.

Pivotally connected in a known 'manner 'to the runner are the stretchers which are indic-ated byfth'ereference character 10 and each of thestretchers 10 has its outer end bifurcated, as at 11, and' with the arms formed by the bifurcation resilient and provided with inwardly extending-,lugs 12.4 The bifurcated end 11 of vthe stretcher 10 is adapted to straddle the `outer end-of the inner rib section 5 and when in such position the lugs 12 detachably engage in the recesses 3 formed at the outer end ofthe inner rib 95 sect-ion 5 and/is clearly shown in Fig. 6. f

'lhe outer rib section is indicated 'by the reference character la and has its inner end provided witha pair of rearwardly extending apertured-lugs 14 which are adapted to 100:

be positioned when the umbrella isfopened and the rib sections extended between the forwardly projecting. apertured lugs 15 formed at the outer end of the inner rib sec` tions 5 'and as clearlyshown in Fig. 7. `lrlfhe 105 apertured lugs `414: and 15 are pivotally con-` nected together by a pin lwhich carries a coiled spring 17 having one of its ends engaging the outerend of the inner rib section 5, as at 18, and the otherof its ends eugag-'llO is'moved othe'upper` sectionl ing the inner eno. of the outer rib section 14.l

The function of the sprin 17 is to maintain the opposed en'ds of the r1 sections in abutting, engagement when the rib sections are extended through the mediuml of shifting the stretchers 10 to the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The outerrib sections 14 are vadapted to fold back upon the inner rib sections when the `umbrella is closed as indicated in Fi 2. The outer rib sections 14aare provide with, eyes 19 for connecting f the umbrella cover not shown) thereto.y

I the lugs of the stretcher ner end engage A the lugs of the rib section is It will be 'assume that the v ella is in .a'po'sition as shown in full linesy in Fig. 1,

vthe runner 7. is lowered whereby the stretchers and rib sections will assume the position shown in dotted llnes in Fig. 1, the stretchers are then detached from the inner ribsections 5 and the runner 7 and handle 2 shifted to the position shown in Fig. 2, the outer rib sections are then folded back upon the-inner rib sections 5 to the position shown in Fig. 2 land the-umbrella is thenfolded.

.l/'hat we claim is 1. umbrellaJ comprising stretchers --having bifurcated outer ends provided with inwardly-extending lugs, inner and outerl rib sections pivotally-connected together,

each of said'inner rib sections having yits sides at the outerends thereof attened and provided. with .recesses for the reception of whereby the inner rib section is detachably-connected to the stretcher.

42. 4An umbrella comprising stretchers having bifurcated `outer ends provided with inwardly-extending lugs, inner .and outer .rib' sections pivotally-connec-ted together,

sections lin abutting engagement when the rib sections are supported by the stretcher.

3. An umbrella comprising stretchers having bifurcated outer ends provided with inwardly-extending lugs,

inwardly-extending lugs, inner and outer rib sections pivotally-connected together, each of said inner rib sections having its sides at its outer ends flattened and provided with ,recesses for the reception of the lugs :of the stretcher whereby the inner rib section is detachably connected to the stretcher, a stick, means for connecting the inner rib Vsection to the stick, and a runner mountedon the stickand Vconnectedto the stretcher.

- 4. An umbrella comprising stretchers' having bi-urcated outer ends provided with rib sections inner and outer rib sections,4 pivotally-'connected together, each of said -inner rib sections,l having; its sides at its outer ends'attendandprovide'd with recesses. for the reception of the lugs of a stretcher whereby the inner ribsection is detachably-connected to the stretcher, a

spring surrounding the pivot of the rib section and having the inner end engage the inner ribsection and its outer end engage the outer rib section for maintaining the opposing ends of the rib sections lin abutting engagement when the rib sections are supported by the stretcher, a' stick, means -for connecting the inner rib section to the stick, and a runner mountedon the stick and connected to the stretcher. A

v5. An umbrella comprising stretchers having bifurcated outer ends provided vwith inwardly-extending lugs, inner and outer ivotally-connectedV together,

each ofl said inner ribA sections havmg'its outer end provided with recesses for. the re.

' ception of the lugs of a .stretcher whereby the inner rib section is detachably-connec'ted to the stretcher, a stick section formed of an upper and a lower section, the former adapte to extend in the latter, means-for con- -nccting'the inner rib section to the upper stick section, means carried by the upper stick section for maintaining the lower ribI section extended, and a runner mounted 'upon the stick and connected to the stretcher.

6. An umbrella. comprising stretchers having bifurcated outer ends provided with inwardly-extending lugs, inner and `outer ribsections pivotallyfconnected together, each of said inner r1b sections having its outer end provided wit recesses for the reception of the lugs of a stretcher whereby the inner rib section is detachably-connected to the stretcher, a stick section formed of an upper and a lower section, the former adapted to extend in the latter, means for connectin the inner rib section to the upper stick section, means carried by the upper stick section for maintainingthe lower rib section extended, a runner' mounted upon thestick ,and connected to the stretcher, and means carried by the upper stick section for maintaining the stretchers extended.

7. An umbrella comprising stretchers each having a bifurcated outer end and with each arm formed by the bifurcation provided on its face at a point removed from its outer terminus with an inwardly-extending lug, an inner and an outer rib section', the inner terminus of the outer rib section being fiatand the outer terminus oi?l the inner rib s ecton being fiat, s aid flattened in.- ner termlnus of the inner r1b sectlon having the upper corner thereof provided with op` positely-projecting inclinedv lugs, said Hat- `tened inner terminus of the outer rib section being `provided with inwardly-extending inclined apertured lugs, means extendsummumv 'ing through said lugs for pivote-11 -conneotattened ing the 'rib sections together, sai outer terminus of the inner rib section hav? ing each side thereof provided with a.' recess for the receptionof the lugs of said arm Wherebythe inner ribxis detachably 'conl nected to the stretcher.

In testimony Wheieof We ax our ignm tures in the presence of twoy witnesses.

` yWILLIS L. MILLS. v FRANK F. GERHARD. Witnesses:

E. B. LEER', H. M. Hosmmx. 

